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The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

Original poster

My dog has been diagnosed with right sided congestive cardiac failure

38 replies

PoorlyPooch · 01/09/2022 19:41

She's a ten year old beagle.
I thought that she had bloat yesterday and took her to the emergency vets.
Brought her home and got her in our vets this morning.
She's started on meds. diuretics and something to open her blood vessels I think.
Has anyone any advice or experience?

OP posts:
Milkywaychocolate · 01/09/2022 23:01

Hello, just wanted to say I'm really sorry to hear this 💐my mum had a Jack Russell years back who had heart problems and he lived until 13 with medication. I can't remember exactly what his condition was. I will be thinking of you and your sweet girl

Original poster
PoorlyPooch · 02/09/2022 11:20

Thank you for your reply.
She's had a settled night and was pretty bright and excited when I got out the cheese for her tablets!
She's been a bit off her food which is a worry when you have a beagle!

My dog has been diagnosed with right sided congestive cardiac failure
OP posts:
Milkywaychocolate · 02/09/2022 13:14

She's beautiful 😍

Original poster
PoorlyPooch · 02/09/2022 19:28

Thank you ☺️

OP posts:
Ihaveoflate · 02/09/2022 19:34

Yes, my JRT cross had a heart murmur which progressed to congestive heart failure. She lived for another 2 years after that on medication and died at the grand old age of 17.

We had to stop walking her during those 2 years so she just pottered in the garden, but she still enjoyed life.

KnottyKnitting · 02/09/2022 19:47

My sheltie has had congestive heart failure for about two years. She had this sort of non productive cough ( which I recognised from a previous dog we had.) She has been on three different meds ( vetmedin, frusimide and benazecare) and is fairly stable on them. We see a cardiac vet every three months but don't buy the medication from them as it is eye wateringly expensive. I pay for a paper prescription and get the meds from Pet drugs online which is around 1/4 of the price.

KnottyKnitting · 02/09/2022 19:48

Sorry forgot to say she is 15

LadyVictoriaSponge · 02/09/2022 20:06

My 14 year old dog has mitral valve disease, she is scanned by the cardiologist every 3 to 4 months, she is on several medications which have kept her stable for the past 12 months, we first discovered she had a heart problem as she had a couple of fainting and vocalisation episodes which were very distressing. Currently she is doing very well and just hoping that continues.

Original poster
PoorlyPooch · 02/09/2022 21:07

Thank you for your replies. She's brighter today and I'm hoping she continues to perk up. She had a lovely mooch on the field today with my middle child who has been really distressed about the news. I've told them that we will deal with what's in front of us and not worry about the future right now.
She's made it upstairs and is currently snoring so we've had to turn the tv up.
I'm alternating between being glad it's been picked up so soon and beating myself up that I didn't spot it sooner (even though there weren't any major symptoms until this week and she had a full check up at the beginning of July.)

My dog has been diagnosed with right sided congestive cardiac failure
My dog has been diagnosed with right sided congestive cardiac failure
My dog has been diagnosed with right sided congestive cardiac failure
OP posts:
LadyVictoriaSponge · 02/09/2022 23:22

Aww what lovely pictures! She actually looks really well! Don’t beat yourself up you have acted quickly and now you are doing everything to make her comfortable, the medications really make a massive difference and they can slow the progression down, I really did not expect my dog to be with me at this point but she had a scan yesterday and yes there has been some deterioration but at a very slow rate, the drugs are doing their job and at the minute she is badgering me to play with her! Hopefully you will have many months or years with your lovely dog.

Original poster
PoorlyPooch · 03/09/2022 09:27

Thank you. I'm glad your pooch is doing ok.
I'm hopeful that her being a good weight beforehand will mean she's in a better place.

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Cait73 · 03/09/2022 14:12

They can live for years on todays medications, you'll need to monitor heart rate and possibly adjust medication but it's no longer the death sentence it would have been years ago

My dog was diagnosed in 2017 he lived till last year, after being told I had 3/6 months left with him. Last year he started winding down and within a month he wasn't managing walks. I didn't mind carrying him everywhere he was the love of my life, but his heart rate increased considerably. I knew if I didn't have him put to sleep he'd have an awful death, and I didn't want that for him.

Enjoy life, your dog will because they know no different. It hard I know (living with a ticking time bomb) but don't ruin the time you have, it could be many years yet. Sending you love and understanding

Original poster
PoorlyPooch · 03/09/2022 18:26

Thank you. Good to know that we the right meds it's manageable until it's not. Then I go and find her morning tab on the floor where she's obviously spat out out of her food 🙈
I'd bought chicken slices but I think Dh had just chucked it on top of her food. We did a little drive out to my mums so she could have a catch up with her dog. She enjoyed mooching but then crashed out on her bed that we had taken with us.
She's interested in what's going on and is currently laid in front of the door to the kitchen. You don't realise how quiet they have become until they aren't anymore.

OP posts:
Original poster
PoorlyPooch · 03/09/2022 18:27

Dd2 is struggling with it all so I've told her we will deal with what's in front of us.
The cat is grooming her loads and being particularly nice to her.

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Cait73 · 03/09/2022 20:40

We used to roll meds up in pate, make little balls with it - tried cream cheese but I ended up wearing more than the dog did hahaha

Please don't be sad, their lives are short (as it is) you don't want to let them feel sadness, I don't believe they understand that emotion

Only love, excitement and happiness ❤️

Cait73 · 03/09/2022 20:42

Forgot to say 10 is the age they start slowing down and sleeping a lot anyway, I really noticed 10 with my dog, but he had another 2 wonderful years after that too

Snooks1971 · 05/09/2022 19:18

KnottyKnitting · 02/09/2022 19:47

My sheltie has had congestive heart failure for about two years. She had this sort of non productive cough ( which I recognised from a previous dog we had.) She has been on three different meds ( vetmedin, frusimide and benazecare) and is fairly stable on them. We see a cardiac vet every three months but don't buy the medication from them as it is eye wateringly expensive. I pay for a paper prescription and get the meds from Pet drugs online which is around 1/4 of the price.

Very similar to us here. Had a gorgeous rescue for 3 years, she’s an Olde Tyme English Bulldogge. Age unknown, could be around 8-9 but no one really knows exactly.

Diagnosed with Congestive Heart Failure (Advanced) about 4 months ago. I stupidly googled (do not do this!! The cardiologist vet said to me when I confessed, oh no, do not ever Google this!)

Yes is sadly incurable but the symptoms are treatable. After she started her meds ( Tarasemide (upcard), Pimobendan (same as Cardisure) and benazepril (Cardalis) we went back to the cardio vet for a check up and rescan after a month on the meds. There was actually a tiny improvement!

It’s been 3 months since that check up and we are due back next Tuesday at the cardio vet for a routine visit to see how things are.

I think she is slightly more wheezy and can’t take really deep breaths as much (both symptoms) but haven’t noticed the non productive cough this time like Knotty mentioned. She had the non productive cough before the diagnosis due to the fluid build up in her lungs.

Yes it’s a great idea to monitor their breath rates going forward - download the free app - it’s called Cardalis for dogs and our cardio vet recommended us to do it. Super easy and foolproof and saves and monitors their breathing patterns. It’s a fab tool to get ahead of any deterioration.

Good luck! Here with you x

Snooks1971 · 05/09/2022 19:20

*have a gorgeous rescue
in the first line not had! Arghh
She’s having mast cell tumours removed tomorrow and I need to correct my typo , I’m worried enough already!

Snooks1971 · 05/09/2022 19:22

PS yes agree with Knotty get a paper prescription for any meds and use Pet Drugs Online. Saves a fortune and the insurance still pay for the meds.

Milkywaychocolate · 07/09/2022 00:25

@PoorlyPooch she has such a wonderful home with you and can tell she is very much loved. Keep us updated on how she is 💐

Darklane · 07/09/2022 19:34

I can echo many of the previous posts.
one of my old girls was diagnosed four years ago, that vet gave her six months at most. Saw another vet who put her on meds & here she still is at almost 16, slower but very much still interested in life. I too get prescriptions from the vet for the different meds she is on, Cardalis, Vetmedin & Frusemide. From the vet the six months worth of the three drugs cost £560, I buy from Animed & it costs £146 for the same six months worth.

Original poster
PoorlyPooch · 16/11/2022 19:05

After a bad few days with her not eating Dh took her to the vets where they did bloods.
Not good news.
She's now in renal failure too.
We've emailed the vet back to find out next steps but from the tone of the message we are close to being at the end. I'm absolutely heart broken tonight. She's only ten. I was expecting a good few more years with her.

OP posts:
LadyVictoriaSponge · 16/11/2022 22:01

Renal failure can be controlled, my dog has been in renal failure for the past 12 months, the progression can be slowed by diet and medication, don’t give up hope yet.

Original poster
PoorlyPooch · 16/11/2022 22:36

LadyVictoriaSponge · 16/11/2022 22:01

Renal failure can be controlled, my dog has been in renal failure for the past 12 months, the progression can be slowed by diet and medication, don’t give up hope yet.

Thank you, I think because of the heart failure it makes it more tricky.
I've been in tears on and off all day. Hope you're dog keeps on doing wellSmile

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Lonecatwithkitten · 17/11/2022 06:11

PoorlyPooch · 16/11/2022 19:05

After a bad few days with her not eating Dh took her to the vets where they did bloods.
Not good news.
She's now in renal failure too.
We've emailed the vet back to find out next steps but from the tone of the message we are close to being at the end. I'm absolutely heart broken tonight. She's only ten. I was expecting a good few more years with her.

Everyone else is describing left hand sided heart failure where as your dog has right hand side heart failure which is a much more complicated condition. The combination of heart failure and renal failure is very tricky to treat as the diuretics that you need to treat the right hand sided heart failure speed up the progression of the renal disease.
I am very sorry for you as a vet it is very tricky and as a person I faced it with one of my own pets.